As custodians of rich heritage, let’s ensure this legacy continues to resonate through the corridors of time Renowned for its stunning landscapes and tranquil ambience, Kashmir boasts a rich cultural heritage intertwined with the flows of its many traditions. Amidst its vibrant and life-giving lush meadows, thrives a charming and timeless tradition of horse-driven carriage, locally referred to as Tanga, the wheels of which have been clattering over the years by the frenetic pace of modernity. Once a luxurious ride of the rich and affluent, Tanga, the traditional legacy of our ancestors, is least in vogue now except at a few places where this cheap and eco-friendly mode of travelling is still galloping in the streets including Sopore, Bandipora, etc.
The majority has otherwise switched over to fast means of transportation. The history of Tanga dates back to the 1930s when the Maharajas used to travel in luxurious horse-driven carriages. It was through Pathans of Peshawar that Tanga came to Kashmir.
Then the horses would come from Kabul (Afghanistan) and the carts from Rawalpindi (now in Pakistan) through Jhelum Valley Road. Mughal Emperor Jahangir also used Tanga during his time. However, it is also believed that Tangas were commonly used in colonial India by British Officers and civil servants to reach their respective destinations.
Tanga has not only been a source of livelihood for Tangaban (coach men) families but it is also in sync with our rich culture that makes us uni.
